Skip to content

Stack

Rent

Property Management

Pennsylvania Late Fee Laws

Last reviewed: July 10, 2026

Maximum late fee
No statutory cap
Grace period
None required
Statute
68 Pa. Stat. (Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951)

Pennsylvania sets no statutory dollar cap on residential late fees — 68 Pa. Stat. (Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951) governs the landlord–tenant relationship, and courts still expect a late fee to be a reasonable estimate of actual damages rather than a penalty.

Pennsylvania's statute doesn't impose a waiting period, so the lease controls when a late fee may be charged. Charging from day one is legal here only if the lease says so explicitly.

Pennsylvania has no statutory cap or grace period; the lease controls and courts apply a reasonableness check.

Calculate a late fee with Pennsylvania's limits preloaded

Automate Pennsylvania's late fee rules

StackRent tracks every due date, applies your lease's fee rules consistently, and posts the fee to the ledger — automatically, across your whole portfolio.

Frequently asked questions

What is the maximum late fee in Pennsylvania?
There is no fixed statutory maximum in Pennsylvania. The fee still has to be reasonable — courts can strike down fees that operate as penalties, so document how yours relates to your actual costs.
Is there a required grace period in Pennsylvania?
No. Pennsylvania's statute doesn't mandate a grace period, so the lease determines when a fee kicks in.
Where is this in Pennsylvania law?
The controlling provision is 68 Pa. Stat. (Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951). Legislatures amend these rules, so always confirm the current text via the official source linked above.

This tool is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Rules vary by state and locality and change over time — confirm current requirements for your jurisdiction before acting.

Late fee laws in other states